Current affairs 11 April 2023

HM Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the Vibrant Villages Programme in Kibithoo, a border village in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• He has also inaugurated nine Micro Hydel Projects of the AP government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme in Kibithoo.
• These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages.
• In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage.

Mumbai among cities with world's best public transport.

• According to a survey, published by London-based Time Out - a media outlet, Berlin (Germany) was ranked as the city with the best public transport system globally.
• It is followed by Prague (Czech Republic), Tokyo (Japan), and Copenhagen (Denmark).
• While India's city Mumbai secured the 19th spot and was the top-ranked Indian city.
• Mumbai's Suburban Railways form the backbone of public transport for a population of 12.5 million.

Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event.

• Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event.
• Gukesh emerged winner in a topsy-turvy summit clash.
• The first game of the new match was a draw after a perpetual check from Gukesh.
• An Armageddon game is a variant of blitz chess to determine a winner after a series of a drawn game.
• A drawn game in Armageddon is counted as a win for Black.

PM Modi launches global bloc to save 7 big cat species.

• PM Narendra Modi has launched a 97-nation International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) in Karnataka on April 9, 2023.
• Aim: To focus on the protection and conservation of seven big cat species in the wild.
• Seven big cat species are tiger, leopard, jaguar, lion, snow leopard, puma, and cheetah.
• The launch of the alliance follows the clarion call given by the Prime Minister in July 2019.
• He also visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

C R Rao will be awarded 2023 International Prize in Statistics.

• An Indian-American mathematician and statistician, Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (102) will be awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics in July 2023.
• Reason: For his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionized statistical thinking.
• He is currently a professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at University at Buffalo.
• He will receive the prize, with an $80,000 award.
• It is awarded every two years to an individual or team.